Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-07-14
Prohibition in Atlanta.

EDITOR HERALD AND TRIBUNE IL
have been requested by some Of the best
citizens Of the town to ask the insertion
in your excellent paper of the enclosed.
taken from the Atlanta EpeRiRg Capital
on Prohibition In Atlanta" Hoping
you will comply with this request. l am
yours truly, F. w. EARNEST.
We are frequently asked the effect Of
prohibition in Atlanta. The inquiries
come from abroad, because Atlantians
see and appreciate the situation, and do
moi need information on the subject.
People interested in the mavement. how
ever, outside of the city, are unable TO
form an intelligent opinion from the ON
flicting rumors which go out, and we have
determined, for their benefit, to answer
the question fully and from a standpoint
unbiased by any consideration save the
truth.
On July LIST, 1886, nearly one hundred
saloons closed their doors. There were
employed in these saloons about three
hundred men, who by reason of prohibi.
ton, were thrown out of employment.
Some of these men left the city, carrying
with them their families and property.
and Atlanta was thereby injured in the
decrease Of population and property value
so much. The mi hundred store rooms
occupied as saloons were left tenantless
and landlords were deprived of their
rental. A feeling Of uneasiness and un-
rest sprung up because prohibition was
acknowledged an experiment and Its prob
able effect unknown. The city was de.
prived of an income from these saloons,
and the revenue decreased thereby. These
make up In Its entirety the evil effect Of
the law. .
During the month Of July quite, If moi
all the vacant storerooms were refitted and
> occupied by persons ENGAGED in othel
/ Euos OF business Grocer stores, meat
markets dry goods houses. clothing es
!, Establishments, banks, industries of every
kind. rose Phunix.like from the ruins
One by Que, the men who had left tn,
. city returned, and to-day those who re
main away can be counted On the fingers
a The feeling Of unrest o wore of, ant
business, especially in the real estate trad,
which had fallen of to some extent, be
gan to pick up, and assumed an activity
! not known for years. A tide of immigra
| ton, attracted by the new order of things
Z began to pour in, the demand for resi-
, dences and storehouses increased, value
looked upward, and the returns of rea
5 property 80 far exceeded those of the pre-
vious year that ever the revenue lost t
. the city was doubly regained In the in
creased collection Of taxes alone. Tn
J showing was so favorable that our count
commissioners, In their annual assess
ment, reduced the ad valorem tax Jus
twenty-five per cent. 1t Is confident,
hoped that q still further reduction wi
, be possible next year, unless the contem
! plated improvements upon the countr
. roads are made, In which event the pre-
, ent rates will be ample for the needs
the county and the increased burden pla
ed upon us by the government.
From a moral stand point the benefci
l effect Is incalculable. Crime has decrea
G ed, drunkenness Is q thing of the pas
@ the police court has little TO do, and Il
criminal dockets are all clear, for the fir
time in years. Were 1t not for the prl
oners Of the United States courts our j.
a would be well nigh empty, and the tnr
key could not make a respectable livin
:, All in all, prohibition has been q gre
success in Atlanta, and will prove INC
u beneficial each day Of Its enforcement.
Is Is positively asserted that the saloon me
ID in the face OF q few months trial Of
: law, are unable to procure n sufficie
!. number Of petitioners TO call an elccti
T. upon the question.